A cursory glance at the development of studies in the area of cosmic consciousness, reveals that more studies in the area of cosmic consciousness have moved away from the parameters of religion to the sphere of psychology in explaining this reality or experience, however, this piece focuses on Saint Augustine’s theological philosophy of cosmic consciousness, unveiled in his reflections on certainty as against skepticism, ascent of the mind: interiority and his mystical perception of God and created realities. At the heart of this study is to make a contribution to the project of a global humanistic pedagogy. In Augustine we discover that consciousness is not limited to an awareness of aspects of the external material world. And to remain at this level of aspects of external material world is to reside at the bottom of consciousness. Material realities, while their importance cannot be undermined, become, upon a profound glance, stepping stones to the absolute eternal unanimity.

INTERNAL PARTY DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE IN SELECTED STATES OF NIGERIA (1999-2011)

*GORDON COOL BOZIMO AND **IFEANYI NWAEBOH (PhD)

*University of Port Harcourt, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Political and Administrative Studies **Liberty Centre for Human Rights and Sustainable Development, 68 Otiotio Road, Yenagoa.

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the association between internal party democracy and good governance in Nigeria from 1999 to 2011. The major aim of the research is to explore the state of internal democracy of political parties in Nigeria and the implication for good governance. The research triangulated the design, combining quantitative and qualitative methods through historical, survey and descriptive approaches. Both quantitative and qualitative data were elucidated from primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include personal interview and focused group discussions while the secondary sources included books, journal articles, grey literature and electronic data from websites. From a total population of four hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and seventeen members (499,917) from the four selected states of Rivers, Anambra, Lagos and Nassarawa, the researcher used purposive sampling methods to select a sample of two thousand, four hundred (2,400) respondents, 600 per state and 200 to each of the selected political parties namely, PDP, APC, and APGA. Three propositions guided the research: absence of internal party democracy encourages imposition of candidates by party elites/chieftains; absence of internal party democracy inhibits participatory democracy in the larger polity; and, the more internal party democracy is practiced, the more the prospects of good governance. Data gathered from the research supported all three hypotheses. The study concludes that there is a very low culture of internal party democracy in Nigeria. Among others, it recommends passing into law an internal party democracy bill, specifying various democratic provisions to be observed by all Nigerian political parties.

Keywords: Internal Party Democracy, Democracy and Good Governance

TACKLING THE MENACE OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA AS PANACEA TO NATIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT: LAW TO THE RESCUE

Law is the lubricant in the engine room of the society. It is used to provide quick solutions to societal problems and for Nigeria, it has become a behemoth. Alarming figures are peddled in Nigeria as monies siphoned by public office holders, and often, to the chagrin of the common man, nothing seem to be done about it. Recently, there was allegation that the sum of Twenty Billion United States Dollars were not remitted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, to the Federation Account. One finds that the seeming problem to this impunity may be connected with the laws put in place to check corruption and public finance in Nigeria. Problems of either inadequacy of the law or conflicting contents capable of watering down its effect or a deliberate attempt at thwarting its effectiveness by public officials. Our court rooms have become swing doors where accused persons walk in and out or at best are given a pat on the wrist for committing massive heist. It is believed that if the loop holes are plugged, public funds siphoned to private pockets could go a long way in bridging the infrastructural gap challenging Nigeria’s developmental strides. This article aims to review the role the law can play in confronting this challenge and provide a panacea to the problem of corruption which has become a bane to our development.

Keywords:Corruption, National, Growth, Development and Law.

EXPLORING THE ISSUES OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN NIGERIA: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

The practice of investigative journalism is progressively declining as a result of some challenges associated with its practice more especially in the third world countries where corruption, embezzlement, and nepotism are gradually becoming a culture. This ugly scenario has over the years affected the political and economic advancement of Nigeria. Indeed, in many media outfits in Nigeria today, investigative journalism is downplayed because journalists fear the challenges associated with investigative reporting, which includes loss of life, financial constraint, and political interference amongst others. Therefore, this paper x-rays the nature of investigative journalism in Nigeria. Through exploration of secondary data, the paper delineates investigative journalism and also outlines its limitations in the Nigerian society. Furthermore, the paper suggests the sustenance of investigative journalism as a panacea to national development.

SMOKE AND STENCH OF OIL, OUR ETERNAL PAINS: A CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SOPHIA OBI’S TEARS IN A BASKET

*CLEMENT CHUKWUKA IDEGWU PH.D AND **DANIEL IDEGWU

*Department Of English, School Of Langauges, College Of Education, P.M.B. 2090, Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria. **Department Of Political Science, School of Arts and Social Sciences, College of Education, Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Globalization which is of inestimable value has become something no writer worth his or her salt will ever ignore. Currently, Africa writers like their counterparts in developing or third world countries have placed more premium on freedom and justice, ecology and environmental issues, individual human rights and the unending search for the meaning and place of self in a grievously fragmented and tortuous socio-political and bastardized world. A new and inevitable sensibility seems to have engulfed the entire world: developed, developing and underdeveloped countries of the world. There is a new wave of revival aimed at putting an end to political corruption, class and economic marginalization, deliberate attempts to underdeveloped certain regions despite their monumental contributions to the economic growth of the nation among other things. These are issues which when over looked could lead to an extreme disruption of world peace and harmony. Nigerian writers in tune with the prevailing concern of literary artists all over the world are devoting their energy, especially in recent times to the exploration, of the basic problems confronting humanity, anywhere in the globalized village called world. This article, therefore, is our genuine attempt to show that Nigerian writers since 1980 have been parts of the world writers collective projection of images in words and deeds deliberately out to reveal our concept of a decent and harmonious society free from all forms of evils and the chaos of life. It is intended to make Nigerian leaders to remember that if the goose that lays the golden egg is destroyed, even the exploiters will be destroyed. Above all it is intended to make our leaders act right in order for the led to follow suit. Sophia Obi’s Tears in a Basket, a journey in poetry will serve as our major reference point.

Keywords: Smoke and stench, eternal pains, tears in a basket, freedom and justice

Communication system occupies a centre stage in an organisation’s productivity in Nigeria. It involves the art of transmitting the right information in such a way that the receiver understands. Also, it is a powerful tool for effective and smooth functioning of the management and workers; communication services are the cornerstone for the development process of the organisation. We recommend that communication should be taken and treated as top priority in any organisation and that there should be proper documentation of communication made within and outside the organisation; management of organisations should ensure free flow of information in channels of communication, and prevent hindrances to effective communication in an organisation; that management should create an atmosphere that is conducive for passing information in the system.

Religion have different definitions from different scholars. Let the above be as it may, the Igbos of the South-Eastern Nigeria since time memorial are known for their strong faith, belief and worship of the Almighty God. There are certain aspects of the traditional religion which included iju-ogu, ikpe-ekpere (prayers) among a host of others which in all are parts and parcel of the religion. The belief of a typical Igbo man in God is strong and there is the subjection of Igbo people’s life and faith among others to God whatever happens, whether good or bad is taken for the act of God. That is why the Igbo always refer to God as “Chukwu onye mazuru ihe nile” among a host of other proclamations. In all, the invasion of foreign religions have relegated our Igbo and African religions to a form of religion that once existed and have consigned it to one that is satanic and diabolic among a host of other things. This research broadened its data collection scope to garner detailed data for analyses. The techniques adopted included oral inter views, use of questionnaires, textbooks, journals, newspapers and the internet among a host of others. A few theories were x-rayed in the light of this work to make our work concrete. The work concluded with the scholars suggesting that the name God proclaimed by the new generation religious movement is the same that the Igbo traditional belief system proclaim and need therefore be reviewed for it form an integral part of our value system.

Keywords: Foreign, Worship, Religion, African, Traditional, Example.

PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE EFFECT OF DRUG/SUBSTANCE ABUSE ON YOUTHS POLITICAL BEHAVIOUR IN BAUCHI METROPOLIS

ABDULWAHAB SANI, KABIRU ABUBAKAR GARBA & HUSSAINI ADAMU HUSSAINI

Department Of General Studies, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi

ABSTRACT

The paper identifies the relationship between youth political behavior and drug/substance abuse as perceived by the public in Bauchi metropolis. The effect appeared obvious as political violence, motivated by use of drugs/substance in Nigeria has remained a major problem that hinders peaceful democratic transition since independence. Using availability or convenient sampling technique, which enables drawing samples that are both easily accessible and willing to participate in a study; a discretionary percentage of (40%) from each of the five targeted population/groups was formed. They include: National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressive Congress; the Vanguard as well as Barisiyya Coalition Group makes up of 200 as the sample size. However, a total number of 170 questionnaires were returned and analyzed after being administered.. Findings in the data shows that about 153 representing 90% of the respondents said that, the youths are aware of the effect but cannot disconnect themselves from the politicians due to the long act and the gain it might entail, while 17 respondents representing 10% said that, the youths were mostly young and ignorant who engage in such an act and perceived it as a norm; hence, they are not afraid of the consequences. The principles of equality before the law should be applied on the politicians that engage youths into such act with severe penalties for a more orderly and organized political transition was recommended, rather than a law of few against the majority.

Keywords: Political Behaviour, Youth, Drug, Abuse, Perception.

Marital Conflict and National Development

Auwal Ali Bayye

School Of Continuing Education, A.D. Rufa’i College for Legal and Islamic Studies, Misau, Bauchi State

ABSTRACT

Peace is a prerequisite for any meaningful development and the family is the foundation for any peaceful co-existence in any nation. Marital conflict therefore affects national development. The marriage institution as ordained by nature is an essential component of mutual and peaceful existence between men and women. It forms the nexus of the family which is the integral unit of every society. Its peaceful existence in the societal set-up to some extent, determines the wellbeing and development of the society. Most scholars consider the family units as the building blocks of a nation. The viability, vibrancy and dynamism of a nation depend on the solidification of the family unit. The stability of the family units is an asset to a nation. Unfortunately however, the family is sometimes bedevilled by certain forces which profoundly militate against its peaceful existence. These forces are fundamentally economic, social, cultural and religious. Consequently, this paper seeks to examine the implicative nature of these forces against national development. Improvement in living standards and creation of favourable marital climate in households are some of the recommendations put forward.